These readings explain a lot of the background and reason behind the way that ethnic theatre came to be in the US. It shows he changes that occurred of theater in different ethnic groups and explains the causes of their progression through history. Ethnic theatre came about around the same time as the founding of our nation. As each group of people started to settle in to their different regions and territories, their corresponding theater companies were formed as well. Local members of the specific regions often criticized the ethnic theatres, calling them sinful and radical, and these were the feelings of many Americans until the early 1900s; immigration began to increase then. Ethnic theater then grew in popularity due to the increase in immigration; it was a way for those coming to America to make a place for themselves where they felt like they belonged. Theatre was a place for immigrants to learn the ways of America while still holding onto their own culture and abilities. And for women, theatre allowed them a way to rise in importance and gave many of the recognition that they could not find anywhere else. Ethnic theatres provided well needed entertainment. And, just as theatre is for many people even today, the theatre was a place where immigrants could let go of their troubles and make art, have fun, and be with others like them. Once the rate of immigration decreased, ethnic theatre had a sort of decline in popularity. Just as the rise in immigration led to a rise in its popularity, the decline led to a lack of interest and participation in it. People found other means of entertainment, whether it be through visual media like movies or audible entertainment like the radio. With people preoccupied, ethnic theatre would not become popular again until the Civil Rights movement. The civil rights movement rose issues of the relations between blacks (and other ethnic groups) and whites in America, and this bled its way into the messages of many theatre performances. This allowed the theatre to be used as a platform for expressing the need for change. All in all, the history of ethnic theatre in America is a very interesting and complex one, and I am excited to analyze and discuss more about ethnic theatre through this class.
Ethnic theater then grew in popularity due to the increase in immigration; it was a way for those coming to America to make a place for themselves where they felt like they belonged. Theatre was a place for immigrants to learn the ways of America while still holding onto their own culture and abilities. And for women, theatre allowed them a way to rise in importance and gave many of the recognition that they could not find anywhere else. Ethnic theatres provided well needed entertainment. And, just as theatre is for many people even today, the theatre was a place where immigrants could let go of their troubles and make art, have fun, and be with others like them.
Once the rate of immigration decreased, ethnic theatre had a sort of decline in popularity. Just as the rise in immigration led to a rise in its popularity, the decline led to a lack of interest and participation in it. People found other means of entertainment, whether it be through visual media like movies or audible entertainment like the radio. With people preoccupied, ethnic theatre would not become popular again until the Civil Rights movement.
The civil rights movement rose issues of the relations between blacks (and other ethnic groups) and whites in America, and this bled its way into the messages of many theatre performances. This allowed the theatre to be used as a platform for expressing the need for change.
All in all, the history of ethnic theatre in America is a very interesting and complex one, and I am excited to analyze and discuss more about ethnic theatre through this class.